26 Fairmount Avenue Book

This book has 9 chapters and 57 pages, not counting the 1 page author's note. This is a perfect book for those just beginning to read chapter books and it also would work fine as a read aloud book, including and maybe especially for siblings of different ages.

This is DePaola's first book in a series of illustrated autobiographical books, and he writes so engagingly. I got a kick out of so much, and particularly enjoyed a couple things about Tomie's first day of school. Hilarious!

I'm sure I'd have loved these books when I was a child. Today's children, especially if they love historical fiction and history, will hopefully appreciate them too.

The illustrations are in black & white and very appealing and, as with the book's text, very accessible. Kids are going to be able to imagine themselves in Tomie's place and even drawing Tomie's drawings, though most not quite as skillfully.

I'm now curious about what happens next and might end up reading the other books in the series.